Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 5]

[48k]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

I'm a native English speaker. Yet we have some very strange pronunciation.

For example, i is u, e is i or u, a can be i or not.

Deck becomes dick, eggs become icx, can becomes kin, seven becomes sivin and ten becomes tin. Fish and chips becomes fush and chups.

And then words have different meanings, a dairy is a corner shop. Doesn't matter if it sells dairy products or not. Sweets are lollies, whether there's any lolly or not. Flip flops are jandals (Japanese sandals) and the Aussies call them thongs.

All very confusing!

chully bun vs eski for what the Brits would call a cool box.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

48k said:

It used to be green, back in the old days. The bricks were a different colour too, but they were also painted dark (black or anthracite or whatever you want to call the shade) as well.

That may, in part, be due to everything being black from soot back in the day. No joke.

[hidetheelephants]

Gladers01 said:

hidetheelephants said:

It's a listed building so they would have to ask the conservation officer at Westminster Council, who would probably say no.

That's a shame, according to google it was a dark green colour back in 1908 when the Liberals were in power

If there's a historical record or period photo of it then that can make a difference when asking to make cosmetic changes.

[Fatboy]

CivicDuties said:

Pit Pony said:

RizzoTheRat said:

horsemeatscandal said:

Why do English or English-speaking people put on an accent when speaking in a foreign language? Some people also do it when using foreign words in the middle of English sentences

Surely accents are just minor differences in the way different people pronounce words. If you're learning a foreign language you pronounce words the way you hear them, so will naturally pick up elements of the accent of the person who thought you. For example I've met several non-Americans with a noticeable American accent because they either learnt English from an American, or grew up watching American films so learned to pronounce words how they heard them.

Or foreign Football players in the Premiour League, who have learnt English whilst living in Manchester. And sound like a cross between Inspector Clouseau and Noel Gallagher.

Jan Molby was my favourite example.

A classic

Julio Giordio

[48k]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

48k said:

It used to be green, back in the old days. The bricks were a different colour too, but they were also painted dark (black or anthracite or whatever you want to call the shade) as well.

That may, in part, be due to everything being black from soot back in the day. No joke.

Correct - the bricks were originally yellow and became stained due to pollution, which was discovered when renovations took place in the 1960s. So now the bricks are painted black.

[hidetheelephants]

48k said:

Clockwork Cupcake said:

48k said:

It used to be green, back in the old days. The bricks were a different colour too, but they were also painted dark (black or anthracite or whatever you want to call the shade) as well.

That may, in part, be due to everything being black from soot back in the day. No joke.

Correct - the bricks were originally yellow and became stained due to pollution, which was discovered when renovations took place in the 1960s. So now the bricks are painted black.

That is quite disappointing. Unless they're crumbly they should be left uncovered.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

hidetheelephants said:

That is quite disappointing. Unless they're crumbly they should be left uncovered.

Where do you draw the line though? The White House was originally natural sandstone and was painted white after the British torched it.

[hidetheelephants]

That was in-period and after it was sacked by the redcoats; slapping a coat of sandtex on it in the 60s is just Barry Bucknell.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

hidetheelephants said:

That was in-period and after it was sacked by the redcoats; slapping a coat of sandtex on it in the 60s is just Barry Bucknell.

Ok but hopefully you get my point. Which was at what point do you set the period that you want to preserve?

[mikey_b]

48k said:

Correct - the bricks were originally yellow and became stained due to pollution, which was discovered when renovations took place in the 1960s. So now the bricks are painted black.

That ‘renovation’ was little short of a complete rebuild behind the front walls. The building was in a terrible state structurally.

[Alickadoo]

48k said:

Gladers01 said:

Does anyone know if the colour of the front door at 10 Downing Street could be changed to show the colour of the current party in power? Being black it makes the place look dull and dreary at the best of times. For example if Labour were to win the election would they be allowed to give the front door a new coat of red paint along with some hanging baskets to brighten the place up a little?

It used to be green, back in the old days. The bricks were a different colour too, but they were also painted dark (black or anthracite or whatever you want to call the shade) as well.

When?

[stemll]

Alickadoo said:

48k said:

Gladers01 said:

Does anyone know if the colour of the front door at 10 Downing Street could be changed to show the colour of the current party in power? Being black it makes the place look dull and dreary at the best of times. For example if Labour were to win the election would they be allowed to give the front door a new coat of red paint along with some hanging baskets to brighten the place up a little?

It used to be green, back in the old days. The bricks were a different colour too, but they were also painted dark (black or anthracite or whatever you want to call the shade) as well.

When?

Asquith had the door painted green in 1908, as other posters above have said the bricks were painted after renovations in the early 60s revealed that they were actually yellow. It was also number 5 until the street was renumbered in 1779

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Wimbledon.

Why is there the annual hysteria? Its all over the BBC almost to the exclusion of all else.

There isn't the same level of enthusiasm for French Open/Australian Open/US etc.

[CivicDuties]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Wimbledon.

Why is there the annual hysteria? Its all over the BBC almost to the exclusion of all else.

There isn't the same level of enthusiasm for French Open/Australian Open/US etc.

Because it's "posh" and aspirational to go and watch it, and certain types of British people love the opportunity to play dress up, or watch other people playing dress up and getting ripped off for strawberries. It's not about the sport. Bit like Royal Ascot, Henley Regatta etc, it's that summer social season, wanting to be seen to be part of the upper middle class/upper class/aristo crap. Ascot is the worst one, so many utter sad cases dressing up and getting pissed out of their minds and vomiting all over their £500 shoes. Awful.

In fairness Wimbledon is the least egregious example and a lot of people going are interested in the sport (I've been to watch myself a few times), but the hype is generally nothing to do with the sport itself.

Edited by CivicDuties on Tuesday 9th July 12:21

[21st Century Man]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Wimbledon.

Why is there the annual hysteria? Its all over the BBC almost to the exclusion of all else.

Seemingly every BBC channel and all day. It seems to be on at least twice a year too.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Wimbledon.

Why is there the annual hysteria? Its all over the BBC almost to the exclusion of all else.

It's the only major sporting event that the BBC still have broadcast rights to.

Jordie Barretts sock said:

There isn't the same level of enthusiasm for French Open/Australian Open/US etc.

You could say that about the British GP vs all the other GPs of the season.

Edited by Clockwork Cupcake on Tuesday 9th July 12:40

[Doofus]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Wimbledon.

Why is there the annual hysteria? Its all over the BBC almost to the exclusion of all else.

There isn't the same level of enthusiasm for French Open/Australian Open/US etc.

Because the BBC don't have the broadcast rights to those

[Clockwork Cupcake]

CivicDuties said:

Because it's "posh" and aspirational to go and watch it, and certain types of British people love the opportunity to play dress up, or watch other people playing dress up and getting ripped off for strawberries.

As an aside, it has always amused me that on PH some posters are so snooty about "dressing up" (usually within the context of Cosplay / Comic Con / LARPing, etc.) and then happily go on about how great the Goodwood Revival is.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

It's mentioned everywhere though. Radio (not just BBC stations) are all over it. Are you going? Did you see?

British GP doesn't get neatly the hype. Or Henley, Ascot, Glyndebourne, BBC Proms...

Everyone is suddenly an avid tennis fan. For two weeks.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

It's mentioned everywhere though. Radio (not just BBC stations) are all over it. Are you going? Did you see?

British GP doesn't get neatly the hype. Or Henley, Ascot, Glyndebourne, BBC Proms...

Everyone is suddenly an avid tennis fan. For two weeks.

And everyone* is suddenly a horse racing fan for the Grand National.

It's just traditional. It's Wimbledon!

(* - obviously not everyone. I meant the word in the same context as you used it)